Disease Control

Disease outbreaks are something every shelter will face at some point. The good news is that if you stay well informed and develop proper disease control protocols , you can keep your risk of outbreak to a minimum.

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Upper respiratory infections in cats are an ongoing challenge for shelter staff seeking to keep their kitties healthy and adoptable. Brenda Griffin, D.V.M., lays the groundwork for an approach to keep cats wheeze-free.

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Canine distemper virus can easily enter a shelter, is tricky to diagnose, and may wreak havoc on a shelter's dog population. A veterinarian and a shelter official discuss the policies and procedures that helped a shelter in West Kennebunk, Maine, cope with an outbreak.

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You will never totally clear your sheltering facility of feline URI and canine kennel cough, those ever-present diseases that affect millions of companion animals every year, but you can minimize their effect with the right approach.

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Fact: Canine distemper is highly contagious, can be carried and transmitted by wild mammals -- and is easy to kill with proper sanitation. To get all the facts on distemper, download our factsheet to keep the basics at your fingertips.

Fact: The canine parvovirus is difficult to kill, can live in the environment for months or even years, and is transmitted only through direct contact with bodily fluids. To get all the facts on parvo, download our factsheet to keep the basics at your fingertips.

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World Rabies Day (WRD) was established in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control to raise awareness about the on-going tragedy of rabies, educate those most at risk and mobilize resources against this fatal disease.

This guide outlines an animal healthcare program for shelters, including design considerations, cleaning materials, animal handling, preventive medicine and planning. It also includes a glossary of terms.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) is an independent council of veterinarians, veterinary parasitologists, and other animal health care professionals established to create guidelines for the optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people.

Maddie's Infection Control Manual for Animal Shelters was developed to enhance knowledge about infection control measures in the shelter environment, and to aid veterinary professionals in the development and implementation of infection control protocols.